The Institution of Christian Religion

¹They fetch an argument out of the saying of Paul, where he affirmeth that the knees of things in heaven, earth and hells, shall bow to Christ. For they take it as confessed, that hells can not there be meant of those that are adjudged to eternal damnation. Therefore it remaineth that it must be the souls lying in pain in Purgatory. They did not reason very evil, if the Apostle did by knelling mean the true Godly worshipping. But sith he teacheth only, that there is a dominion given to Christ, whereby all creatures are to be subdued, what proof is there to the contrary, but that we may by hells understand the Devils, that shall be brought before the judgement of God, to acknowledge him their judge with fear and trembling? Like as Paul him self expoundeth the same prophecy in an other place.² All (sayeth he) shall be brought before the judgement seat of Christ. For it is written: So truly as I live, every knee shall bow to me. &c. But we may not so expound that which is in the Revelation: I have heard all creatures,³ both these things that are in heaven, and those that are upon the earth, and these that are under the earth, and those that are in the sea, and all those that are in them, I have heard them all say to him that sitteth on the Throne and to the Lamb, Blessing and honour, and glory, and power, for ever and ever. That I do in deed easily grant, but what creatures do they think to be hear rehearsed? For it is most certain, that there are contained creatures both without reason and without sense. Whereby is affirmed nothing else, but that all the parts of the world, from the hiest top of the heavens. to the very middle point of the earth, do in their manner declare the glory of their creator.⁴ As for that which they allege out of the history of the Maccabees, I will not vouchsafe to answer it, least I should seem to reckon that work in the number of the holy books. But Augustine received it for Canonical. But first, of what sure credit did he receive it? The Jews (sayeth he) esteem not the writing of the Maccabees as they do the law, the Prophets and the Psalms, of which the Lord him self hath witnessed as of his witnesses, saying: It was necessary, that all things should be fulfilled that are written in the law, and the Psalms, and Prophets, concerning me.